Absorbent article

Abstract

A feminine hygiene device. The absorbent core can have a first compressibility in an unaltered state, wherein at least a portion of the absorbent core that is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the absorbent core has a second compressibility in an altered state. The second compressibility can be greater than the first compressibility. The portion of the absorbent core having the second compressibility can be a portion of the absorbent core from which absorbent material has not been completely removed. The feminine hygiene device has an elastic member generally aligned with the core longitudinal axis and spanning at least a portion of the absorbent core that has a preferentially weakened zone of compression. A portion of the absorbent core that is generally aligned with the core longitudinal axis can comprise structural features selected from the group consisting of slits, corrugations, nodules, and tufts.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to improved fit for absorbent articles such as menstrual pads, pantiliners, and incontinence pads.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Feminine hygiene devices such as sanitary napkins and pantiliners are designed to collect, absorb, and retain bodily discharges. Feminine hygiene devices typically comprise a liquid pervious topsheet, an absorbent core, and a liquid impervious backsheet. Feminine hygiene devices are typically attached to the wearer's panty with a pressure sensitive adhesive to keep the feminine hygiene device under the wearer's vaginal opening and near the wearer's body to intercept discharge.[0003]Approaches for achieving proper fit include using shaped absorbent cores and shaped inserts to shape the feminine hygiene device. Feminine hygiene devices having these features may not be able to be folded flat. Packaging feminine hygiene devices that cannot be folded flat can be inconvenient and uneconomical. Furthermo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0044]The benefits of the present invention can be enjoyed in virtually all feminine hygiene devices designed to be worn in the panties of the wearer, such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners, and light incontinence products. For convenience and clarity, the invention is disclosed in an embodiment of a sanitary napkin.

Problems solved by technology

Feminine hygiene devices having these features may not be able to be folded flat.

Packaging feminine hygiene devices that cannot be folded flat can be inconvenient and uneconomical.

Furthermore, shaped elements may not be sufficiently pliable to conform to a wide range of motions and may feel bulky to wearers of the feminine hygiene device.

Rather, as the ridge is shortened by bending, the absorbent core material buckles, crumples, and wrinkles in an uncontrolled manner.

An absorbent core that is buckled, crumpled, and wrinkled in an uncontrolled manner along the ridge is unlikely to conform to the wearer's body satisfactorily.

For wetted absorbent cores, buckling, crumpling, and wrinkling can be even more pronounced due to the loss of mechanical integrity caused by wetting.

When the beam is bent along the length of the beam, such that the fold line is on the side of the beam being shortened by compressive stresses, the fold line buckles, crumples, and wrinkles uncontrollably.

Openings in the absorbent core can adversely interrupt fluid transport in the absorbent core, can be challenging to manufacture, and can reduce the structural integrity of the absorbent core.

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